This is the dramatic moment a giant wave 'three or four times' the size of a lighthouse completely dwarves the landmark as it crashed towards the coast. Paul Cowley battled against extreme weather on the promenade at Porthcawl, Bridgend, south Wales, last week in his bid to capture some images of the rainy weather on the coast.
The 54-year-old said the dark morning, horizontal rain and 25mph winds nearly saw him pack up his kit, but he persevered and managed to snap some shots of the waves tower over the lighthouse. The professional photographer of 30 years said that at one point some of the waves were even three or four times the height of the 19-metre-high landmark.
The wildlife, travel and landscape photographer said that being able to witness the waves fly into the air and crash against the tower while feeling the power of the ocean was 'amazing'.
Photos captured by Paul reveal a gigantic grey wave full of sea foam towering above the 19th-century white structure - making it appear tiny. Paul said: "Just being there and feeling the power of the ocean was quite amazing.
"The crashing of the waves and the way they were flying into the air was the main thing but there was a lot of spray, wind and sea foam flying around as well. Without the lighthouse, you wouldn't have the scale of the waves. It gives a brilliant scale to their size.
"Some of the waves were going up three or four times the height of the lighthouse. They were huge.
"I heard it was a good place for a photograph and drove down from Cardiff and it was very grey and rainy. I almost just gave up on the spot and came back. It was very dark, grey and I thought I'd persevere a little bit. There was horizontal rain and 40kph winds.
"It did brighten up slightly but not much and I got some photos. It was quite testing for me and the camera kit. I was there for around an hour, for as long as my hands could take it. It was showering on and off and there was a lot of sea spray and foam.
"I didn't realise how good the images were at the time because of the weather. When I got back and looked at them on the computer I was very pleased with the result."
